Dune: Prophecy is finally set to debut later this month, bringing with it new insights into the world of Arrakis and its politics. HBO’s upcoming series is set 10,000 years before the events of Villeneuve’s films, focusing primarily on the Harkonnen family and the origins of their rivalry with House Atreides. The show boasts an impressive cast, with stars like ChernobylEmily Watson, The crownby Olivia Williams, The wizardJodhi May and Vikings‘Travis Fimmel.
Watson and Williams play Valya and Tula Harkonnen in Prophecybrothers who are instrumental in the group’s rise to power that fans saw in the films, and in the formation of the Bene Gesserit. The series’ showrunner, Alison Schapker, has a history in the industry that began more than two decades ago. She has worked on shows like Indeed, Lost, Fringe, Scandaland Western Worldgiving him a huge amount of experience with dramas before his work on the new prequel.
TelaRant interviewed Alison Schapker to discuss how her past work helped influence Dune: Prophecycrafting a significant rivalry and plans for possible future seasons.
Schapker’s work on Westworld was “absolutely” an inspiration for Dune: Prophecy
How the showrunner’s previous work helped her with this show’s timeline
Screen Rant: How will the Corrinos be represented in Dune: Prophecy differ from its portrayal in the films, and what seeds, if any, will be planted for Shaddam’s storyline in the future?
Alison Schapker: There are so many things in Dune that last 10,000 years. There is the creation of Paul Atreides, which takes many millennia and generations for someone to take on this role. There is the rivalry between the Harkonnens and the Atreides; also 10,000 years. How did this start? And then, of course, there are the Corrinos, who have occupied the Golden Lion Throne for 10,000 years. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that we are looking at the points of origin of what will ultimately [be Dune].
You will see distant, very distant echoes over large periods of time in films. But we are in a different time and the Corrinos are still a recent dynasty. We have been some leaders since the Corrinos adopted their name, after the Battle of Corrin and the thinking machines were defeated, and began to occupy the Golden Lion Throne in the Empire.
And we’re dealing with Javicco Corrino, who is an emperor who feels a tenuous relationship with his power and his legacy. He feels a little less than he does when he thinks about some of the men who came before him. And he’s asking himself, even now, in this early period, “Am I living up to the Corrino name?” and consciously wanting to elevate House Corrino and secure their hold on the throne. In a way, you’re actually seeing another origin from another part of a Dune dynasty that has held power for a long time.
That’s what I love about the show; we can take a deep dive into some of these different houses. But I want to talk about timelines for a second because Dune has always approached time in such a fascinating way. His experience was in Western World some inspiration on how to effectively manage the complexities of the Harkonnen sisters’ schedules?
Alison Schapker: Yes, absolutely. I think every experience you have in storytelling affects you as a writer. Westworld was doing fascinating things with time, but even in its own way, so was a show like Fringe, which moved between universes and then also crossed timelines.
I always found this very interesting because I think we all carry within us various periods of time as human beings. And it’s funny, people have been asking me about Dune today, and I remember what it was like to be a teenager reading that book in a very visceral way. You’re like, “There I am as a teenager reading Dune, and here I am as an adult.” Getting to know a character and observing him in different periods of his life is very interesting.
So I would say definitely, all the stories that I’ve been involved in that have done this before have shown me from experience what the benefits are and maybe some of the pitfalls. You try to navigate it so that people can really get on board and not be confused by it, but rather emotionally invested. We hope we were able to do this.
Schapker has a lot of “juicy” plans for Future Dune: Prophecy Seasons
How the Showrunner Hopes to Continue Furthering the World’s Lore Over Time
You absolutely were able to do this. Can you expand on the narrative plans for future seasons? Do you foresee the use of time jumps and how this might influence the development of key characters like the Atreides and the Harkonnens?
Alison Schapker: I think a central question of the show, if people show up and we can get more seasons, is, “What happened to this organization, the Brotherhood, that basically went through a whole rebrand and became the Bene Gesserit? ” How did you go from a prophecy that is the inciting incident of our show to putting into action a prophecy that would only be realized for your own purposes and that would eventually lead to Paul Atreides?
I think there are a lot of stories that impact how this transition happens, and I hope we can [show it]. This would, in my perfect world, be a kind of structure.
I’m loving the rivalry happening before my eyes. It’s something we know from the movies, but in this series we deeply understand how it all started and where it’s going. Could you explain how Dune: Prophecy Will it deepen the lore surrounding the Atreides and Harkonnens? What else might surprise fans about these families?
Alison Schapker: That’s a good question. That’s definitely one of the general guidelines; Where does the rivalry fit in? In Season 1, let’s talk about a moment. I think what’s so interesting about a rivalry, let alone a rivalry that lasts this long, is that I don’t think it’s just a static thing. I think it’s a wound that is being reopened, healing and being reopened. Was there a moment when everything would calm down? What ignites it and when does it assume its inevitability? When does it become so ingrained that its origin almost no longer matters?
I think that ebb and flow was something that I was really interested in because we know it’s going to drive the story forward, but how did that happen and were there times when it could have gone another way? These are all things that I find juicy and interesting.
Episode 3 left my jaw dropping, let me tell you. Now, what are the motivations behind Desmond Hart’s desire to overthrow the brotherhood, and how does this conflict play out between him and Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen?
Alison Schapker: Well, Desmond’s motivations are a real mystery of the series. Where did he come from, what truly motivates him, and why does he hate the Brotherhood? Which I don’t think is a spoiler. And also, what is his story? Because it comes with a powerful and compelling story; he was given great power by Shai’Hulud, an ancient god of Arrakis responsible for all spice creation.
It almost makes him seem a bit – I don’t want to say Messiah figure, but a charismatic, outsized Chosen One. I think Dune is absolutely worried about those kinds of numbers. This is an early iteration of someone who is playing this, someone with this kind of potential at some point. I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say Valya [sees] it has the potential to change worlds. What does this mean, who is he and in what way will he actually break? These are all things the show will explore.
More about Dune: Prophecy Season 1
From the vast universe of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreides, DUNE: PROPHECY follows two Harkonnen sisters as they battle forces that threaten the future of humanity and establish the legendary sect that will become known as Bene Gesserit. DUNE: PROPHECY is inspired by the novel SISTERHOOD OF DUNE, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Check back soon for our others Dune: Prophecy interviews here:
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Emily Watson and Olivia Williams
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Jodhi May and Mark Strong
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Travis Fimmel and Jordan Goldberg
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Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston and Chris Mason
Source: Screen Rant Plus